This month, the University proudly launched Isambard-AI, the UK’s most powerful supercomputer. This bold new facility enables us to explore solutions to society’s grand challenges and has the potential for transformative breakthroughs. Isambard-AI provides groundbreaking resources for the research ambitions of our new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus (TQEC).
The flagship building at TQEC will be home to an academic community that spans across a range of disciplines, bringing their expertise together to create a unique environment where we can push the boundaries of what we know. All that we are building today is helping us to shape a better future, with a commitment to responsible innovation and as a key player in supporting local, regional and national growth.
I was delighted to welcome Lyn Garner, Chair of Bristol Temple Quarter LLP and Karen Mercer, CEO, to our Board meeting and for a tour of our main building this month. Alongside their masterplanners, Prior + Partners, they shared early ideas for the wider regeneration of Bristol Temple Quarter. It’s incredibly exciting to see what the area surrounding our campus will come to be – a new sustainable, inclusive city district fit for the future.
Meanwhile, we unveiled a new artwork in Royal Fort Gardens, celebrating the local partnerships that define us as a civic university. This exhibition showcases the places and partners we collaborate with to tackle global issues through a local lens. It’s a reminder of the role we play in connecting people and ideas for a shared purpose – and how TQEC will help to strengthen that.
Professor Judith Squires, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost
Highlights of the month from Programme Director, Matt Costain
It’s very exciting to hear that Temple Quarter won’t be our only new Enterprise Campus with the announcement of the Mumbai Enterprise Campus, which shares TQEC’s vision of innovation, inclusion and interdisciplinary collaboration. I look forward to working with the Mumbai team as we prepare for both Enterprise Campuses to open in 2026.
Closer to home, we’re delighted to welcome Michelle Graffagnino as the new Lecturer and Micro-Qualification Lead for the Hartcliffe Micro-campus. Michelle, a Senior Lecturer in Education and lifelong resident of BS13, will be working with Jane Hewer at Hartcliffe and Withywood Ventures (HWV), local employers, Further Education partners, community organisations and more to convene micro-qualification pilots throughout 2026.
In the latest edition of the TQ LinkedIn newsletter, Professor Guy Poppy spotlights how our innovative new campus will help to drive growth in the region and beyond. If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the TQEC LinkedIn newsletter and share.
Travelled through Temple Meads recently? You may have spotted a glimpse of the new campus in the station underpass. New hoardings showing a future view of University Square and the main academic building have been installed where the new station entrance will open. Not too long now until we can see the real thing!
Visualising future campus spaces
This month, we’ve been showcasing some of the main building’s facilities ahead of its opening next year using the Reality Emulator – a digital twin facility that shows 2D and 3D visualisations in the research hub on Avon Street.
TQEC will be home to innovative active learning spaces and a circular lecture theatre. These spaces go beyond traditional lecture and seminar spaces, encouraging more active participation for students to listen, share, and identify solutions together. The Reality Emulator offers an opportunity for staff to familiarise themselves with the circular lecture theatre, and picture themselves teaching in the centre of this new style of space.
The Reality Emulator has also been used for a range of other groups:
- The International Student Recruitment Team brought a group of their agents on a virtual tour to build enthusiasm and excitement about the new campus. The team have also used the facility to build their knowledge of the campus and support recruitment efforts.
- A group from the Global Engagement Division visited to explore events spaces like the multi-purpose room on the Mezzanine floor, the Exchange Hall, and the civic spaces.
- Some of the artists leading our public art commissions came to see the spaces their artwork will have pride of place in – the Exchange Hall and Story Exchange. Using the model allowed the artists to better visualise the environment and plan the best placement for their artwork.
A big thank you to the Bristol Digital Futures Institute Team and our IT Project Manager, Alan, for supporting teams by bringing these spaces to life.
Community consultations
Fiona and Tara from the TQEC Civic Team represented the University and our new campus at a series of community consultation events, led by Bristol Temple Quarter LLP. Held in Screenology and Easton Community Centre, the events offered local residents the chance to find out more about the regeneration of the wider development area and have their say on the consultation of St Philip’s.
TQEC is a major driver for the broader regeneration of Bristol Temple Quarter, so we were pleased to showcase our new campus, highlighting the progress to date and the opportunities it will bring once it opens in 2026.
Fiona and Tara reported that the events went well, and it was a pleasure to meet local people and hear about their hopes for the area. Many people were especially interested in the public spaces in the new building, such as the Exchange Hall and Story Exchange. They also shared more about the micro-campuses, how they feed into the broader campus and how we’d love for people to come along and get involved!
Exploring learning and landscapes through art
It’s been yet another exciting and productive month for the artists leading the public art commissions at TQEC!
Women’s Work: Letterpress Posters have been installed on the hoardings outside the main building. These were created after lead artist, Ellie, held collaborative workshops at Bristol Common Press with researchers working in engineering and students from Philosopher Queens, a module led by Dr Alix Dietzel. As a special gesture, the students were also gifted their posters on their graduations. One student, Toni, shared that the project had fulfilled a dream before graduating by getting to use the old letterpress! Find out more about the project in Alix’s blog with BILT.
Meanwhile, Room 13 Hareclive – the artist studio co-run by children from Hareclive Primary School – has been busy with some inspiring research and development trips for their commission. Wild Spaces focuses on the waterways and natural landscape around the TQEC development. Recently, the group followed the River Avon out to the Severn Estuary, pausing for a riverside picnic and reflecting on the river and its wildlife. They also explored one of the river’s sources, closer to home on the Dundry Slopes, Hartcliffe.
Back in the studio, the artists and students have been developing ideas for temporary artworks inspired by their experiences and interactions with the environments they encounter.
As always, you can keep up to date by following the University’s Public Art Instagram account.